File No. 817.00/2178.
The American Minister to the Secretary of State.
Managua, August 23, 1912.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith copies of correspondence1 relative to the peace proposals, the violation of the armistice arranged by the Salvadoran Minister, and the protests against the bombardment of the city of Managua by the forces of Mena and Zeledón.
On August 6 Mena wrote to his personal and political friend, Don Miguel Cárdenas, an officer of the Díaz Cabinet, that he was desirous of arranging a peaceful termination of the troubles in Nicaragua. [Page 1038] On the same day he addressed another letter to certain members of his own Conservative party in Granada, replying to their suggestion of compromise, and proposing as the basis of settlement that Don Adolfo Díaz withdraw from the presidency and permit Mena to name the person who should succeed him for the balance of the present term and for the following four years.
Meanwhile the Minister of Salvador, Don Antonio López G., and the Chargé d’Affaires of Costa Rica, Don Francisco Cabezas G., had called at the Legation to inquire my views with reference to the advisability of offering their mediation to the contending parties. I replied that in my opinion they should first make sure of the safety of their channel of communication by getting from Mena a disavowal of the acts of his subordinates who have been accused by the Nicaraguan Government of maltreating its messengers. They accepted the suggestion and later on sent to me a note containing Mena’s denial of the charges and promising fair treatment in the future. They then decided to visit him personally at Masaya and to communicate President Díaz’s counterproposals to the effect that the rebels surrender all arms and that the Government grant amnesty and pay the costs of the conflict. The mediators succeeded in arranging with Mena an armistice of twenty-four hours, later increased forty-eight to expire on August 12; and they likewise entered into an agreement that for the purpose of expediting telegraphic communication between Masaya and Managua each side should send two workmen to repair the lines which had been cut. The Government promptly acceded to this arrangement and sent two employees of the telegraph office to Sabana Grande to put the lines in condition, but the Menistas stopped the work, imprisoned the men and confiscated their instruments.
While the armistice was still in force General Benjamín F. Zeledón demanded of the Government the surrender of the capital, and addressed to me as Dean of the Diplomatic Corps a note informing me of his intention to bombard the city within twelve hours. A similar note having been sent to the Consular Corps, both these bodies of foreign representatives met at the Legation for conference. When all were assembled the Salvadoran Minister expressed deep resentment against Mena for the inexcusable breach of faith, and after some discussion proposed that strong protests should be made against the threatened bombardment. He stated to me that the attacking parties had shown themselves to be beyond the pale of civilization and should be treated not as rebels but as savages who have violated all rules of warfare; and he urged on me the necessity of having sufficient United States forces to prevent complete anarchy. Señor López then prepared the protest made by the Diplomatic Corps, and I signed it, though with some hesitation as I had decided to send my own separate protest as Dean and as American Minister. The Consular officers added theirs in very emphatic terms. Another notice of bombardment having been sent to the Nicaraguan Government and to the Salvadoran Minister by General Dionisio Thomas, my colleague replied with a copy of the several protests.
Notwithstanding the vigorous objections raised by the Diplomatic and Consular Corps, the artillery attack was begun early in the morning [Page 1039] of the 11th instant, as reported in my telegram of August 12, 7 p.m., and continued throughout the day, most of the three-inch projectiles falling in the residence portion of the city. The guns of General Dionisio Thomas also took part although the time proposed in his ultimatum had not yet expired. At night Zeledón’s forces attempted to take the city by assault but were repulsed with great losses. Among the prisoners captured by the Government several stated that they had been promised four days of looting in Managua if the city were taken. The Minister for Foreign Affairs addressed to me a note requesting that more United States forces be disembarked for the protection of the life and property of the foreigners. Many Americans in the towns held by the Mena and Zelaya elements had already made complaint to the Legation of ill treatment, and in the case of Mr. Caldera, former United States Acting Consul in Managua during the Zelaya régime, who expressed some apprehension for the safety of his family, although I was not able to have them brought to the capital as requested I succeeded in sending medical relief to his wife.
The detachment of about one hundred bluejackets brought to Managua, as heretofore reported, would have been inadequate, of course, to afford protection for any length of time if the more serious fears felt by the general public had been realized. The commanding officer kept the guard within the building temporarily arranged as the Legation compound, and very little street liberty was allowed to the men. A supply of stores and water sufficient to last a month having been secured, and the Legation barricaded, the guard could have withstood an ordinary attack by street mobs, but of course would have been ineffective against any concerted assault with large guns.
The bombardment of the city continued throughout the 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th, with slight intermissions, and about 600 projectiles were fired into the residence portion of the city, according to the estimate of the Navy officers. One shell struck in the street directly in front of the Legation, and about 40 or 50 within dangerous proximity. Three fell in the Hotel Lupone where the foreigners were known to be congregated. Thousands of people fled into the country and those who remained were in dread of their lives. The Salvadoran Minister and the British Vice Consul departed for Corinto. Many families constructed places of shelter in back yards, and at the request of the British Consul General two of the bluejackets built a bombproof in his house for him and his friends. There were a hundred and thirty-two women and children killed and injured by shells and not one man. The last of the firing was heard at about 5 a.m. of August 14 and this proved to be a feint to cover the retreat, for by eight o’clock it was definitely known that the rebels had withdrawn towards Masaya, and the Government had demonstrated its ability to defend the capital under the most adverse conditions.
Two hours later Major Smedley D. Butler, U. S. M. C, arrived from Corinto with his battalion of 350 marines from the Canal Zone, and was given a warm welcome by natives and foreigners alike. He had moved his forces with remarkable rapidity and reached the capital at a most opportune time, for if he had arrived sooner he would have had difficulty perhaps in entering the city during the fighting, [Page 1040] and on the other hand if his coming had been delayed the railroad communication would have been cut and the relief work seriously hampered for a long time.
I am [etc.]
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